Illinois Fighting Illini: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Social Media Reacts to Illinois Basketball's Exhibition Win Over Illinois State

It’s officially basketball season in Champaign – well, sort of. The Illinois men’s basketball team kicked off its 2025-26 campaign on Sunday afternoon with an exhibition game against in-state foe Illinois State, the preseason favorite in the Missouri Valley Conference.

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First Impressions: How Each Illinois Newcomer Fared Against Illinois State

No. 17 Illinois took down Illinois State by a score of 92-65 in an exhibition game Sunday in Champaign. With the Illini yet again bringing in a handful of newcomers this offseason, we’ll take a look at how each of the active newbies performed in their respective debuts in orange and blue.

College Basketball News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 19

Three Instant Observations From Illinois' 92-65 Win Over Illinois State

Every new college basketball season is a chance for a team to reinvent itself, to start fresh and, if not correct the mistakes of the past to at least find new ways to solve the challenges of the present day.

Brad Underwood News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 19

Brad Underwood Reacts to Preseason Rankings and What They Mean to Illinois

It's rare that a college basketball coach spends much time worrying over their team's ranking – especially five months ahead of when it even begins to matter – and rare still that they would be willing to admit it publicly.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 18

Illinois' First-Class Ticket to the College Football Playoff: Beat Washington

Illinois football, at 5-2 (2-2 Big Ten), may not have the gaudiest record through seven games, but it remains resolutely in pursuit of a College Football Playoff spot – which, for those with any shot, is the goal of every FBS team in the country.

College Football News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 17

Illinois Bye Week: Games to Watch With CFP Implications for the Illini

Week 8 may be a rest week for Illinois (5-2, 2-2 Big Ten) following its loss to No. 1 Ohio State , but that doesn’t mean Illini fans shouldn’t have their

Ben Humrichous News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 17

Ben Humrichous Scouting Report: Illinois Basketball 2025-2026

Every weekday leading up to Illinois' Nov. 3 regular-season opener at Champaign's State Farm Center, Illinois on SI will share a scouting report for each Illini player on the team's official roster.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 16

Four-Star Jasiah Jervis Sets Decision Date: What It Means for Illinois

Illinois currently has commitments from two recruits in the class of 2026 ( Ethan Brown and Landon Davis ), but Brad Underwood and his staff still have yet to make a huge splash with that group – though the Illini will have a prime opportunity to fix that in a few weeks.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 16

Blake Fagbemi Scouting Report: Illinois Basketball 2025-2026

Every weekday leading up to Illinois' Nov. 3 regular-season opener at Champaign's State Farm Center, Illinois on SI will share a scouting report for each Illini player on the team's official roster.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 16

Illinois Aiming to Extend Position Pipeline With Offers to Wide Receiver Trio

Illinois football has enjoyed its share of star wide receivers over the years, including recently. Last year it was Pat Bryant, and in 2023, Isaiah Williams was the Illini's go-to guy.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 15

Illinois Football Offers Three-Star Quarterback Trey Tagliaferri

It has been mostly high times for Illinois football at the quarterback position over the past two-plus seasons, during which Luke Altmyer has developed from a somewhat promising transfer into a dark horse Heisman Trophy candidate and college football's most clutch quarterback.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 15

Jake Davis Scouting Report: Illinois Basketball 2025-2026

Every weekday leading up to Illinois' Nov. 3 regular-season opener at Champaign's State Farm Center, Illinois on SI will share a scouting report for each Illini player on the team's official roster.

Brad Underwood News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 14

Where Does Illinois' Brad Underwood Rank in KenPom's New Coaching Metric?

Illinois men's basketball coach Brad Underwood rarely gets the benefit of the doubt, let alone is singled out as a top strategist among his peers. His strengths as a college head man, most would admit, are considered to be his recruiting acumen and motivational ability.

Kylan Boswell News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 14

Kylan Boswell Scouting Report: Illinois Basketball 2025-2026

Every weekday leading up to Illinois' Nov. 3 regular-season opener at Champaign's State Farm Center, Illinois on SI will share a scouting report for each Illini player on the team's official roster.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 13

Where Does Illinois Basketball Rank in the Andy Katz Power 37?

It’s almost time for tipoff in the college basketball season. With practices in fuill swing, media days in the books and teams ramping up for their openers, preseason rankings are rolling in from analysts and national outlets.

College Basketball News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 13

Two Illini Ranked Among Top 10 Freshmen in Big Ten by The Field of 68

Despite losing two freshman to the NBA, Illinois' offseason retention was worth noting alongside its prized transfer portal find. The Illini brought back

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 13

Illinois Offers Pair of Out-of-State Defensive Linemen: What to Know

Despite losing to Ohio State on Saturday and falling out of the AP Top 25 for the first time all season, Illinois continued to stay busy on the recruiting

Bret Bielema News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 12

Illinois' Bret Bielema Shares Injury Update on Running Backs and Other Illini

Illinois (5-2, 2-2 Big Ten) needed just about everything working in its favor this past Saturday to have a shot against No. 1 Ohio State (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten).

Bret Bielema News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / October 12

Coach Bret Bielema Offers Stark Assessment of Illinois After Ohio State Loss

Outside Illinois football's friendly confines – Champaign, Central Illinois and Chicago – Bret Bielema catches a lot of hell. Whether it's his late substitutions, on- and off-field trolling or general outspokenness, the big man rubs plenty of folks the wrong way.

Watch: Ohio State at Illinois | HIGHLIGHTS | 10/11/2025

Luke Altmyer News / 5 GOATs / October 5

Ohio State at Illinois odds: Opening point spread revealed

On Saturday, Illinois will host Ohio State inside Memorial Stadium. Fighting Illini fans will undoubtedly pack the venue as they look for their team to pick up its first home win over the Buckeyes since 2002.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Big Ten Network / October 3

Watch: Illinois' PERFECT Two-Minute Drill vs. USC | Urban Analysis

Makai Lemon News / Yardbarker / September 28

Is Lincoln Riley to blame for crushing loss to Illinois?

In the second marquee matchup of the Big Ten slate on Saturday, Illinois stunned USC with a 41-yard walk-off field goal.

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Illinois Fighting Illini News / Yardbarker / September 24

With recruiting rules in flux, Illinois HC calls NCAA a 'comedy'

With recruiting rules in flux, Illinois HC Brad Underwood calls NCAA a 'comedy'

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood says if the NCAA is going to change its recruiting rules to allow athletes to play five seasons of competition over a five-year span, he wants a decision to come ASAP.

Former G League pro granted NCAA eligibility in landmark ruling

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